BANGKOK, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Some 30,000 supporters of the embattled Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra kicked off their march to Bangkok Friday morning to render a warm backing to the premier who has shunned from face-to-face encounter from anti-government demonstrators over the past two days.

    The supporters, most farmers of the "Caravan of the Poor" group hailing from the North and Northeast part of Thailand, have been camping in Pathumthani province on the outskirts of Bangkok. They were expected to arrive at the city's Chatuchak Park late Friday.

    Leader of the march said the villagers were thankful for what the prime minister has done for them and hoped him to remain in office.

    Thaksin has won widespread advocacy in the countryside where 70 percent of Thais live. His government for his numerous projects aimed at improving living conditions of grass-root civilians.

    However, critics have been consistently accused him of crony and abuse of power. Tension soared following Thaksin family's 1.9 billion-dollar sale of telecoms conglomerate Shin Corp. to a Singaporean investment company, which fueled the furor already brewing among portions of the middle class people in Bangkok.

    On Friday, the anti-Thaksin demonstrators planned to a march tothe Singaporean embassy in Bangkok, protesting its company's controlling of a major Thai utility through behind-curtain trading.

    While electioneering vigorously outside the capital for the upcoming polls, Thaksin claimed that he would not bow to mob rule but may consider taking a pause from politics after the April 2 election.

    Reports say that Thaksin would continue his trips to provinces and may not return to the Government House until the election.

    The Election Commission is now considering whether to delay the April 2 poll due to fears that pressing on with the present schedule may result in the failure for the 500-MP House of Representatives to meet.

    According to the EC, of the 941 candidates registered earlier this month, 320 have failed to qualify, mostly because of they held dual party membership or failed to meet the 90-day rule.

    A total of 271 out of the 400 constituencies in 71 provinces have just one candidate contesting, from Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai Party. Their victories would be valid only if candidates garner noless than 20 percent of the district's eligible voters, highly unlikely in some districts where the party has little support.

    On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled against a Thai Rak Thai candidate contesting the general election in Samut Sakhon, leaving his constituency without any contenders for the seat.

    The ruling also prompted the EC to mull calling a new round of candidacy registration in constituency 3. Enditem